My mother told me, it doesn’t matter so much where you are, but rather who you’re there with. Picnic in the Alley offers both a stellar lineup of women business leaders and a fun setting for meeting, eating and getting creative.
First held in 2019, the second edition of the charity culinary event invites the community to celebrate women in “all areas of industry” through artistic and epicurean exchange.
“We decided to do it in 2019 as an effort to shine some light on amazing women in town and, overall, [get] these women all in the same place at once,” founder Jolene Mannina says. “We talk to people on social media and connect that way. But rarely do we get a chance to just collaborate.”
Picnic in the Alley in 2019
The event moves from Fremont East to the Arts District this year. Aside from the Downtown location shuffle, it picks up right where it left off just before COVID hit. More than 20 chef stations and about 15 cocktail stations will serve up gourmet bites. Local boutique Akin Cooperative will run a mini market. And there stations will feature artists, including photographers Louiie Victa and Angie Ortaliza, along with live performances “all curated by women,” says Mannina, also founder of Downtown’s Vegas Test Kitchen and Secretburger.com.
The lineup includes various local business titans like Gina Marinelli of Summerlin’s Harlo Steakhouse and La Strega, Elizabeth Blau of Honey Salt and Wyndee Forrest of CraftHaus Brewery. Guests can expect a hybrid indoor-outdoor environment where they can relax and sample to their hearts’ content while socializing and networking with some of the best in the industry.
A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Shade Tree, a local nonprofit and homeless shelter for women and children. “Doing things that help women in need flows with what we’re doing. … It made sense to partner with the Shade Tree. Last [time], we partnered with Dress for Success. And we’re planning to give some money to women’s hospitality initiatives,” Mannina says.
And while the event combines charity and entertainment, the primary purpose is to create space for connections to be made, Mannina emphasizes.
“Lots of times, you don’t realize there are lots of powerful women around you, where you can go for mentorship or help,” she says. “Knowing that there’s amazing women who are around you and can help you [and] bringing them together means you can get more familiar with each other and start building those relationships.”
PICNIC IN THE ALLEY May 21, 4-8 p.m., $125-$150. NineTwenty Events, 920 S. Commerce St., picnicinthealley.com.
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